MARINE RADAR & SONAR

RADAR & SONAR FOR BOATS

Advanced Radar, Sonar & Fishfinding Technology

Modern marine radar and sonar systems have evolved far beyond the traditional radar screens and depth finders found on older boats. For vessels operating offshore, reliable radar, sonar, navigation, and weather information can be important tools for situational awareness and safe navigation, particularly at night, in reduced visibility, or when operating in unfamiliar waters. For serious offshore and sportfishing applications, today's sonar technology can also provide an extraordinary amount of information about the water beneath and around the vessel.

Maritec Marine installs, integrates, and troubleshoots marine radar, fishfinders, sonar, transducers, and related navigation systems, helping boat owners get the most from modern electronics while ensuring the equipment is properly installed and integrated with the vessel's network.

Modern Marine Radar

Marine radar systems are available in a variety of technologies, power levels, antenna configurations, and ranges. Depending on the system, modern radar can provide significantly more information than simply displaying targets on a screen.

Advanced radar features can include:

Automatic target acquisition and tracking
Target heading and speed information
Closest Point of Approach (CPA) and Time to Closest Point of Approach (TCPA)
Collision-warning alarms
Guard zones and proximity alarms
MARPA target tracking
AIS target integration
Radar overlay on electronic charts
Improved target separation
Doppler-based target identification and motion detection
Weather and precipitation detection
Sea and rain clutter controls
Bird detection for offshore sportfishing
Land and shoreline identification
Channel marker and buoy detection
Target trails and historical movement
Dual-range viewing on supported systems
Integration with autopilots and other navigation equipment

Modern systems can also make radar information easier to interpret by combining radar returns with electronic charts, AIS information, GPS position, heading data, and other navigation information on a multifunction display.

Radar Installation Is Critical to Performance

A sophisticated radar is only as good as its installation and configuration. The scanner must be mounted securely and positioned to provide the clearest possible view around the vessel. Towers, hardtops, antennas, outriggers, masts, and other structures can create shadows or interfere with the radar's field of view.

Installation also requires proper consideration of mounting height, cable routing, power requirements, grounding, network connections, antenna orientation, and electromagnetic interference. Multiple radar systems, VHF antennas, satellite equipment, and other electronics can create installation challenges when equipment is mounted in close proximity.

After installation, radar should be properly configured and tested to ensure that heading, GPS position, chart overlays, AIS, target tracking, and other integrated functions are operating correctly.

Sonar Is Much More Than a Depth Finder

Modern sonar technology has transformed offshore fishing and navigation. Today's systems can provide high-resolution images of the bottom, structure, fish, bait, thermoclines, and other underwater features that traditional depth sounders could never display with the same level of detail.

Depending on the equipment and transducer, sonar systems can provide:

High-resolution traditional sonar
CHIRP sonar
DownScan/Down Imaging
SideScan/Side Imaging
Forward-looking sonar
Live sonar
Real-time fish and structure imaging
Water temperature information
Bottom composition and contour information
Fish arches and target identification
Waypoint marking
Sonar history and recording
Integration with chartplotters and MFDs
Integration with trolling motors
Automatic waypoint and track navigation

Transducer Installation Makes the Difference

The transducer is one of the most important components of a sonar system. A high-performance sonar display cannot compensate for a poorly selected or improperly installed transducer.

Depending on the vessel and application, transducers may be through-hull, in-hull, transom-mounted, trolling-motor-mounted, pole-mounted, or retractable. Location, hull construction, angle, water flow, depth, mounting method, and interference from other equipment all need to be considered.

Some advanced transducer installations require fiberglass work, custom mounting, structural reinforcement, fairing blocks, or specialized mechanical installation.

Side-Scanning & Live Sonar

Side-scanning sonar allows anglers and operators to see structure and targets to the sides of the vessel rather than simply looking directly beneath it. Modern live-sonar systems can provide near-real-time images and may be mounted to trolling motors, dedicated poles, or other movable mounts, allowing the operator to direct the sonar toward an area of interest.

These systems can be particularly valuable for serious anglers because they provide information about fish and structure before the boat reaches the target area.

Retractable & Advanced Through-Hull Sonar

Some of the most advanced sonar systems use large, specialized transducers that retract into the hull when not in use. These systems can provide exceptional performance but require very precise installation and mechanical integration.

A retractable transducer installation may involve hull modifications, structural considerations, mechanical components, seals, motors, sensors, cabling, and specialized control systems. Installation and troubleshooting of these systems require considerably more than basic electronics knowledge.

Forward-Looking Sonar

Forward-looking sonar provides information about what is ahead of the vessel rather than simply displaying what is directly beneath it. This can provide valuable situational awareness in certain operating conditions and is particularly attractive to offshore sportfishing vessels and serious tournament boats.

These systems can be highly sophisticated and require careful transducer placement, alignment, calibration, networking, and integration with the vessel's navigation electronics.

Radar, Sonar & Autopilot Integration

Modern marine electronics become particularly powerful when individual systems work together. Radar and sonar can be integrated with GPS, heading sensors, chartplotters, MFDs, AIS, autopilots, and NMEA 2000 networks.

For example, a marked fishing location can become a waypoint that is displayed across multiple MFDs. An autopilot can use navigation data to follow a route or return to a selected waypoint, while radar and AIS provide additional information about surrounding traffic.

Proper integration requires the equipment to communicate correctly and the network to be designed and configured appropriately.

Installation, Integration & Troubleshooting

Because radar and sonar systems are increasingly sophisticated, installation is no longer simply a matter of mounting a display and connecting a transducer. Proper installation may require electrical work, network installation, fiberglass or carpentry, mechanical fabrication, cable routing, system configuration, calibration, and sea trials.

Maritec Marine can help with the complete process, including:

Radar installation and configuration
Radar troubleshooting and target-tracking problems
Sonar and fishfinder installation
Transducer selection and installation
NMEA 2000 networking
Radar and sonar integration with MFDs
AIS and radar integration
Autopilot integration
Advanced live and forward-looking sonar
Retractable and through-hull transducers
Troubleshooting intermittent or poor sonar performance

Serious Equipment Requires Experienced Installation

High-end radar and sonar equipment represents a significant investment, and improper installation can prevent the system from performing as designed. Problems with transducer location, network communication, power supply, interference, mounting, calibration, or configuration can be difficult to diagnose after the installation is complete.

Maritec Marine combines marine electrical expertise, marine electronics experience, NMEA networking knowledge, manufacturer training, and hands-on installation experience to properly install and troubleshoot advanced radar and sonar systems.

Whether you're replacing an older radar, upgrading your fishfinder, adding live or forward-looking sonar, installing a new transducer, or integrating multiple navigation systems, Maritec Marine can help design, install, configure, and troubleshoot a marine radar and sonar system that works as an integrated part of your vessel's electronics.